Kaysen: “Not Correct” City Delayed Walmart Three Years

Cheyenne Mayor Rick Kaysen says it's "not correct" to say city regulations delayed the start of work on a new Walmart store by three years.

The mayor says a good portion of the delays were actually related to the Wyoming Department of Transportation and concerns about traffic in the area of the new store at College Drive and Interstate 80.

He says he isn't blaming WYDOT for the delays, but adds "these are just the pieces that have to come together" on such a project. He says drainage and the safety of a bridge in the area were other concerns that had to be addressed.

Kaysen says he thinks the city and Walmart actually worked well together during the permitting process

Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dale Steenbergen said recently that it was "sad" it took three years to start work on the new Walmart. He went on to say "We need to do better" at getting businesses approved in Cheyenne.

Steenbergen also said that while a large retail chain like Walmart could deal with the delays, people trying to start small businesses in Cheyenne are often "toast" because of regulatory hurdles.

The new Walmart is slated to open in the fall of 2015, and work is already underway.